Clinton started under the instruction of his father, Freddie Pelletier, at the age of eleven. The purpose of scales was introduced and taken seriously. These scales were a perfect building block for the old time country/bluegrass music Freddie was helping Clinton with at a rapid rate. A short time later he co-produced a "Beginner Guitar" instuctional video with his father that was released independently and continues to sell well. In 1997 (at 15 years of age) Clinton and his father Freddie recorded a twelve song instrumental album appropriatly entitled "Like Father, Like Son". Continuing with his fathers instruction, Clinton picked up the electric guitar and began learning how to perform in the band setting. This allowed him to get experience playing everything from weddings to bar gigs.

The transition from acoustic to electric spawned an interest in other flavours the guitar can offer. Clinton began listening to the nylon string guitar used in Latin, Flamenco and Classical music. He also found an interestin the way Lenny Breau approched the instrument, consequently gaining an appreciation for jazz.